Potty Training Chart to the Rescue

by Cyndi Li on January 29, 2015

Cyndi Li

About the Author

Cyndi Li has been freelance writing since 2005. She&#8217;s been published in Twins Magazine, and has written thousands of online articles. She&#8217;s the proud mother of five children ranging in age from six-years-old to 28 years-old including a set of adorable, mischievous twins. She enjoys spending time with her beautiful granddaughter, Hailey, and loves the outdoors, creating unique family memorabilia, and cooking from scratch.

About the Blog

WhatToExpect.com supports Word of Mom as a place to share stories and highlight the many perspectives and experiences of pregnancy and parenting. However, the opinions expressed in this section are those of individual writers and do not reflect the views of Heidi Murkoff of the What to Expect brand.

Potty training is one of those thing I had a love/hate relationship with. I loved the idea of no more diapers, but I hated the idea of having to potty train. Of course, that probably had something to do with the fact I had twins who were ready to train at the same time — double trouble for sure! The potty training chart, however, saved the day for me.

As soon as your little one starts exhibiting signs he or she is ready to potty train, it's time to start using a chart. You can design one yourself or print one from the Internet if that's easier. Each time your toddler uses the potty — or even tries — log it on the chart.

The benefit of a chart is that you can track your toddler's progress to see how much they're advancing. This is especially helpful when it seems like they'll never be potty trained. It will also serve to inspire your toddler to keep trying. You can use stickers or traditional check marks, and then offer a small reward after your child gets a certain number of stickers/marks. Just keep it simple, and it will work well.

Here are some tips to consider when making potty training chart:

-It should be colorful and appealing to your child.

-Have your child help you make it.

-Place it on the refrigerator to serve as a motivator for your child.

-Put a picture of your child on the chart to make it more personal to them.

-If more than one child, each child should have their own chart.

-Choose a theme for the chart such as princesses or camo.

-Make the reward appropriate. In other words, don't buy a new toy every time they use the potty.

Once your toddler is ready to start training, hang up the training chart, dig out the training pants, and begin the potty training stage. It shouldn't take too long for your toddler to catch on, but do remember, just like all their other milestones, they'll master the art of learning how to go potty on the toilet in their own time.

Have you ever used a training chart? Share your opinion about charts in the comment section below.

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